Men's Basketball

Wayne Tinkle Tabbed As Next Beaver Basketball Head Coach

by Taylor Hanslovan Follow @thanslovan
Mar 16, 2013; Missoula, MT, USA; Montana Grizzlies head coach Wayne Tinkle swings the last of the net after beating the Weber State Wildcats 67-64 during the championship game of the Big Sky Conference tournament at Dahlberg Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon State Athletic Director Bob De Carolis made what may become the most defining hire of his tenure in the Beaver front office, handing the reigns of a struggling Beaver basketball program to Montana head coach Wayne Tinkle. The hiring ends the  fifteen day vacancy in Gill Coliseum.

Tinkle comes to Corvallis off eight season with the University of Montana Grizzlies. During his time in Missoula, Tinkle led the Grizzlies to three NCAA tournament appearances, a program best. His 158 wins are good for second best in program history, behind greatest-coaching-name-in-history-candidate Jiggs Dahlberg.

The Milwaukee, Wisc. born Tinkle first appeared in Missoula between the lines, playing for The Grizzlies from 1986-1989. Before taking an assistant coaching job with Montana in 2001, he played in Europe for twelve seasons, with stints in Sweden Spain, Italy, and Greece.

“Tinks” took over head coaching duties in 2006 from current Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak. He has posted only one losing season in his time with Montana and has been regarded for his team’s high-intensity defense and blue collar work ethic. With four post season appearances in the last five years, Tinkle is a proven winner– something Beaver fans haven’t seen in a long time.

Tinkle inherits a Beaver team that struggled to a .500 record in 2013-14 with a disappointing first round exit in the CBI. Oregon State also lost it’s top five most productive scorers from last season, a fact that will no doubt test the rebuilding and recruiting capabilities of the 21st head coach in program history.